Customs 1949 - 1951 Mercury: Bench or Bucket Seats?

Thanks guys I am looking!

Let me know local guys, I'm ready to buy!!!!

 

Here's an idea for you ... install a late model full size pickup split bench, like 40/20/40. It could be reupholstered in tuck and roll, still have the comfort of a bucket with the fold down center "console" which can flip down to make the bench ... just a thouight, My dodge has this and it's not only super comfy on my posterior and back, it's damn handy to not only have the center console, but also be able to flip it up for rides with the dog.

 

Like out of what year trucks? Sounds interesting, I'll look into it.

 

Well, my "new" truck is a 2003 Ram ... can't vouch for anything outside of the 2002 - 2008 model years. I'm sure others would work too, but I can only speak from my*****'s personal experience with the Dodge. COuld probably find one without all the power doohickies like mine for pesos at a wrecking yard.

 

John, take a look at page 78 in the Aug 09 Street rodder. The black 57 Buick has seats that might look close to proper without headrests on them. The general contour of the side of the back comes close to matching the back of The red and white seat that Bad Bob showed in the photos above. I'm probably going to use some Audi seats I already have in my truck as my 62 year old back doesn't like a flat bench lean back anymore.

I think the deal is towards what looks like it belongs in there instead of what is totally period correct. Low back, right shape and contour an the right size to fit the car so that they don't have that afterthought look like the tweed highbacks that you took out.

Somewhere I have an article in an old magazine on how to make bucket seat frames out of old grocery carts. That might satisfy some people.

 

"flat bench back"... Haven't had a bench seat car since around 1994, I forgot what that was like.

Thanks for the ideas on the buckets.

I'd like to hear from any folks within 80 miles of Chicago if you have relevant seats, I'm trying to potentially schedule a time to have my car done by Dave Martinez.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I don't like the idea of mixing themes in a car with such a strong '50s flavor as yours seems to have. Anything but a split bench would look completely out of place.

There are lots of choices including most '50s and '60s sedans and hardtops that are both slimmer and lower than the "overstuffed" stock seats in late '40s and early '50s cars such as your Merc.

With appropriate upholstery one of these later seats would still have the "look" of a '50s custom but with the comfort and low seating position to make driving a much more comfortable and stylish proposition.

The first example from Bad Bob (see above post) is a perfect compromise of style and comfort, in my humble opinion.

Just my $.02 Hope it helps.

 

I hear you, I have tried to keep the car mostly mid 50's. A split bench would be the easiest compromise for me. Would make the car quite a sleeper once I slap a 78mm turbo in too.

 

Nice seat, any idea what it came from?

 

Anyone out by Holland/Muskegon/Grand Haven got any seats? I'll be out that way next weekend.

 

I think he said it was 76-ish Mercury or something like that.

 

Update, I bought a split bench and matching rear from a guy up in the Northern suburbs.

 

Hi Pro Stock John !
I have a hard time holding back my badest language seeing your interior , looks like someone made it with no regard to tradition , you got to ask yourself why do I have this car , do I like real kustom cars or a freekich cartoon of one . Get back to the roots of customs , Im talking pre -53 . Thats when radial tires for cars were invented and from there it was downhill . Get hold of a -49-51 Mercury or baby Lincoln interior and you be the king of the hill , and center console ? are you planning any space explorations ? Building something modern out of a -51 Merc is just bad , it will NEVER look good ...................................study the masters .
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/barris-1/hirohata_mercury-1/
Wolf

 

Hehe I threw out my old interior two weeks ago I just have the seats now.

 

jesum crow!?! what happened to the tradition of "run whatcha brung"?

Prostock, you have got to tell me whats shaking?!!?

did you find a seat for us? "us" since we have the same GM floor boards/channel issue. hope all is coming along good with your car!!

 

bench-bench-bench, did i mention BENCH!!

 

bench all the way

 

Dr Herb I bought seats out of a like a 1968 Impala I think it was. They were cheap enough that I could just try them and if I didn't like them I could ditch 'em.

 

come on bucket's in a merc? unless you're going late 50's early 60's rad custom... it just doesn't work...

 

Yeah I got talked out of bucket seats.

 

I build what I want.
NOT what everyone else wants...

 

I wanted buckets, but many folks in the know pointed out that a 52-55 era custom which is my goal would not have buckets. That's what I meant.

 

i'm cool with that, it's kind've the car guy motto.. but, if you're asking for opinions....

 

Like the Cake song goes:

Stickshifts and Safetybelts, bucket seats have all got to go
When we’re driving in the car, it makes my baby seem so far
I need you here with me not way over in a bucket seat
I need you to be here with me not way over in a bucket seat

If your Merc isn't a g-machine, do you really need all that bolstering?

-Stefan

 

I won't get into the bench vs. buckets thing, but as far as the tweed, well, the problem isn't that it's all tweed. The problem in my view is that there is so much visually unbroken surface area of the same tweed.

I don't generally criticize another guy's ride, but I mean, wow, that goes way beyond the point of "understated elegance" and into the realm of visually bland.

There are ways to do fabrics that look good, are comfortable, and convey elegance or sportiness. This is not one of them.

My advice would be to look at car interiors, both factory and custom, and look for what grabs you. Look at the color combinations, the materials used, where they are used, how they are used, the way the different materials interact with each other on the seats, the floor, the door panels, the dash and the headliner. Look at the accents used. Make notes. Take pictures. Find a combination that makes you happy.

Then go with something like that.

 

Anyone know of a bench seat that will work in a chopped merc that does not need to be cut down? I have the stock seat but I'm not sure how hard it's going to be to get it to work.

 

Early to mid '50s Jag would work real well. Good luck finding any.

Thet tweed is it is not going well with the rest of the car. No offense intended I'm guessing that you want to down grade to something a lttle more desirable.

 

Don't do this:

 

that is soooo funny!

 

John, i know you said that you bought some impala seats....have you tryed to set them in their respective places to how they fit?? im curious cause im still on the hunt for something that will work, fit, cheap enough, as little of work to be done as possible, and with a old school look?!?! where is that seat? and lets not forget the hump!!

i found a guy selling 94' lincoln town car seats that look exact in the front. looks almost perfect in the bottom rear, but the top rear?? thats a different story.

my roof (B pillars) and all braces surrounding them make it so they wont fit. seat back it square at the top and and i need one that is curved inward i think.*****s cause these where WHITE LEATHER!!! looks sharp!! owell...onward goes the search...

Chris